Effect of frequency of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization on preventing tumor recurrence after radical resection for hepatocel-lular carcinoma / 中国肿瘤临床

ABSTRACT

Objective:To compare the effect of the frequency of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on preventing tumor recurrence after hepatectomy. Methods:A total of 45 post-operative patients who had received prophylactic TACE once or thrice were retrospectively examined between January 2008 and June 2009. Of the 45 patients, 23 underwent TACE once, and the others un-derwent it thrice. TACE was administered to all patients via the hepatic artery one to two months after operation and was repeated every two to four months with patients who underwent TACE three times. All cases were followed up for 36 to 40 months after surgery. The rates of cumulative recurrence between the two groups were compared. Results:In the group that underwent TACE once, the 1-, 2-and 3-year cumulative recurrence rates were 30.43%, 47.83%, and 47.83%, respectively. In the group that underwent TACE thrice, the 1-, 2-and 3-year cumulative recurrence rates were 4.55%, 27.27%, and 36.36%, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that the relapse rate within one year was lower in the group that underwent TACE thrice than in the group that underwent TACE only once (P=0.022). How-ever, no significant difference in the cumulative recurrence rate was found between the two groups in two and three years (P=0.086, 0.225). Conclusion:Hepatocellular carcinoma patients who undergo preventive TACE three times after hepatectomy exhibit reduced re-currence rates during the peak time of tumor recurrence and extended disease-free survival intervals.